ST. LOUIS—[BOX SCORE] (RV) Missouri Baptist Men's Basketball fell victim to a second half rally from No. 5 Columbia in a 79-72 defeat on Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans and Cougars threw haymakers back and forth in the first half. Columbia led by as many as nine before Missouri Baptist got hot from three-point range. A 13-2 MBU run turned a 22-13 deficit into a 26-24 lead.

Johnny Benson led the way as the Spartans closed out the first half with six consecutive threes made. The senior from Milwaukee posted nine of his team-high 14 first half points in that span. Missouri Baptist led 40-33 at the break.

Columbia would fire back in the second half. The Cougars started the frame 12-5 to tie things up. Then, with the game knotted at 47, Columbia sophomore guard Adam Mennemeyer drained a three while being fouled by the Spartans' Pablo Hernandez. Though Mennemeyer missed the ensuing free throw, the play awoke the rowdy Columbia crowd. The home side would not trail the rest of the day.

The Spartans cut into the lead, narrowing it to as few as two, but the Cougar offense was continually able to come up with the needed clutch basket. Another three from Mennemeyer gave CC its largest lead of the day (75-65) with 1:42 to go. They would hold on from there for a seven-point victory.

Johnny Benson added 13 second half points to finish the day with a team-high 21 for MBU. Pablo Hernandez (15) and Fitzgerald Hopkins (11) also reached double figures for the Spartans. Missouri Baptist turned the ball a season-low four times.

The Spartans finish the regular season with a record of 23-7 (15-7 AMC). They will host Williams Baptist College (15-12, 11-11 AMC) in the AMC Quarterfinal next Wednesday, February 28, inside the Petty SRC. Tip time will be 7 pm.